Carla's Song
Paul Laverty drew on his experiences as a lawyer working with human rights groups in Nicaragua in writing the script for CARLA'S SONG, which stars Robert Carlyle (TRAINSPOTTING) as George, a Glasgow bus driver. Attracted to Carla (Oyanka Cabezas), a beautiful but impoverished Nicaraguan woman who often rides his bus, he .. Read more
| Starring | Robert Carlyle, Oyanka Cabezas, Scott Glenn |
|---|---|
| Director | Ken Loach |
| Genres | Drama |
loading...
Carla's Song
Paul Laverty drew on his experiences as a lawyer working with human rights groups in Nicaragua in writing the script for CARLA'S SONG, which stars Robert Carlyle (TRAINSPOTTING) as George, a Glasgow bus driver. Attracted to Carla (Oyanka Cabezas), a beautiful but impoverished Nicaraguan woman who often rides his bus, he sometimes allows her to ride for free--and is fired as a result. But he keeps in touch with Carla, helping her find a place to live in a spare room of a friend's apartment after learning that she's become detached from a dance troupe, forcing her to dance in the streets of Glasgow for meager remuneration. As they continue to see each other, George finds that Carla is subject to drastic mood swings, a result of her Sandinista boyfriend, Antonio (Richard Loza), having been captured by the Contras. Realizing that nothing will be resolved until Carla discovers the truth about Antonio, George agrees to accompany her to Nicaragua to try to find him. Carlyle is typically excellent in this film by hard-hitting English filmmaker Ken Loach, who is known for casting an unswerving eye on complex political and human rights issues.
| Starring | Robert Carlyle, Oyanka Cabezas, Scott Glenn |
|---|---|
| Director | Ken Loach |
| Studio | UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: 11 Apr 2005 |
| Format | DVD |
-
Critics' reviews (2)
View all -
Robert Carlyle stars in this rather sombre story of love among the revolutionaries from director Ken Loach, made in the year between Carlyle's famous turns in Trainspotting and The Full Monty. He plays a Glasgow bus driver who falls in love with exotic Oyanka Cabezas, a refugee from war-torn Nicaragua. He insists they go there so that she can confront her demons — only for him to learn just what she's had to suffer. The story runs out of steam once the action moves from Scotland, but Loach is a persuasive propagandist and Carlyle has enormous charm. Fans of Carlyle's tougher side are well served by his villainous performance in the new Bond movie, The World Is Not Enough.
-
George (Carlyle), a Glaswegian bus driver, is headstrong and goofy enough to steal his sweetheart away on a diversion... read more on Time Out
-
Most helpful member's review
View all -
13 out of 14 people found this review helpful
Depressing!
I found the Scottish accent very difficult to comprehend. This,plus a heavy Central American accent made this movie hard going.
I found this a very depressing movie....and for what! -
Most recent members' review
View all -
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
A beautiful song
A lovely film. The actress playing Carla is amazing but Bobby Carlisle steals the show. Not usually a big fan of Ken Loachs films, I find his approach all a little too conceited. His choice to use non actors in the quest for authenticity, I find heavily patronizing to actors and iIsimply don't believe it works.
This film has something going on though, it might just touch on the truth that Loach strives for. But then, what do I know about the plight of Nicaragua?
Anyway, regardless of what it says, achieves, reaches or changes - it's beautiful to watch and savour. -
News and features
View all
Looking For Eric
- 11 Jun 2009
Right, so, first things first: Eric Cantona is actually IN this film – it’s not just footie footage, or some clever CGI jiggery-pokery to make it look like he was there. I rather doubt that director Ken Loach has much truck with all that computerised mucking about anyway. Because this is very definitely a Ken Loach film. There’s the kitchen-sink realism of Carla’s Song or My Name Is Joe and the unflinching script of The Wind That Shakes The Barley, as we meet Eric... Read more
-
More like this
View allShowing 1 to 4 of 20
Related user collection
The Revolution Will Be Televised - Or Watched on DVD (75)
84.4% from 58 members
